Retractable door handle



June 3, 1952 v J. R. GATES ETAL RETRACTABLE DOOR HANDLE Filed Oct. 26; 1948 ZSI-IEETS-Sl-IEETZ ATTORNE YS Patented June 3, 1952 RETRACTABLE DOOR HANDLE Jack R. Gates, near Corvallis, reg., and James F. Schuler, Seattle, Wash., assignors to Boeing Airplane Company, Seattle, Wash, 2. corporation of Delaware 7 Application October 26, 1948, Serial No. 56,655

14 Claims. (01. 292348) --This invention relates to retractable door handles and is herein illustratively described by reference to its application to escape hatch doors in aircraft. In such cases the retractable door handle, on the exterior side of the fuselage, is normally disposed within a well or recess in the fuselage outer wall, thereby avoiding air drag, so important in modern highspeed aircraft. When the door handle is to be used to open the door it is simply moved from its recess outward into an accessible, projecting position whereit may be easily grasped and turned or otherwise'manipulated tooperate the door latch. The invention generally considered is not restricted to such aircraft installations, however,

but is advantageously useful in a variety of different types of vehicle installations. It is also applicable to door installations set in floor and wall surfaces in buildings, especially under conditions requiring elimination of normally projecting door handle parts which might interfere. with the movement of objects or individuals past them.

An important object of the invention is to devise a retractable door handle which can be moved easily and quickly between its normally retracted and its projecting or operative positions, and further a door handle which will be urged v:by resilient means into either of such positions, yet be readily movable .at will into the other position. In its described form the re-' tractable door handle illustrating the invention is normally movedv from retracted position to operative position by the simple conditioning operation of pressing one end of the handle through a short distance until the handle mechanism quickly snaps resiliently into projected position ready for use. Thereafter the resilient means employed to effect such erecting action continues to hold the handle in its projected position until it is later pressed inward by hand for effecting its retraction. When the handle is pressed back toward its retracted posi-, tion a short distance, a point is reached at the handle proper is it may occupy parallel positions at the extreme ends of its translatory movement carried by the link as above described, into and out of its recess. Consequently the depth of the well or recess into which the handle is retracted need not be great since the handle is then substantially parallel to the surrounding wall or door surface in which received. Such a feature in addition to the close folding relationship of the handle parts results in av compact, retractable handle which may be installed readily in a small space or in a thin door. In addition to the foregoing described operation of the double-acting resilient means to swing the link, and thereby the handle proper bodily, such resilient means is also so arranged with relation to the handle proper and the link as to effect relative swinging thereof and urge the handle proper into parallel positions at the opposite ends of its translatory movement. The same resilient means thereby performs the several described functions attributed to it, swinging both the link and handle proper during both retraction and erection of the handle mechanism.

Further important objects of the invention include simplicity, ruggedness and durability of construction, economyof manufacture, and ease of installation and maintenance of the retractable door handle- The invention, including, its various features and the details of its preferred form and mode of operation are hereinafter described by reference to the accompanying drawings. While the invention is. described specifically in this manner, it is=to be kept in mind that numerous modifications incorporating its broader features are possible; accordingly, various equivalent arrangements and forms may be devised readily by those skilled in the art to meet different installation requirements, and such adaptability of the retractable. handle to different types of installa-- tions is one of its important advantages.

Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a downwardly opening hatch door located in the wall of an aircraft fuselage and accessible for opening from the outside, showing door operatingmeans and the preferred form of my retractable door handle in its retracted position.

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the door handle and only those surrounding door parts which cooperate more directly therewith, the handle being illustrated in a partly retracted position corresponding to the cross-over point of the resilient means; Figure '3 is an enlarged view corresponding to Figure 2 but with the handle moved further outward toward its projected position; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the handle now fully extended into its operative position.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the door handle in its retracted position mounted in the hatch door installation of which only fragmentary portions are shown; Figure 6 is a similar view, showing parts of the door handle broken away, with the door handle in its projected or operative posihandle in this even to operate the latch mechanism securing the door.

In plan, the handle and housing opening substantially conform and the outline dimensions of the housing recess preferably only slightly exceed the outline dimensions of the handle proper I4, leaving only ample operating clearance for the handle. This provides a neat appearing installation from outside the door; when the handle tion; and Figure 7 is a similar view, with the projecting door handle rotated a predetermined amount to operate associated door latch release mechanism. 1

As viewed in the several figures there-.

tractable door handle herein illustrated is adapted to operate door latch mechanism by rotation of a short shaft I 0 journaled in the base of a which gives it strength and rigidity. Handle l4 housing I2 defining a recess in the door for ceiving parts of the retractable door handle. Theprimary elements; of the retractable door handle include the handle proper M, the handleprojecting link [6: pivotally carrying the handle M, themounting lug I8 fixed to the upper end Qi-the fshaftv HI and pivotally supporting the base end. of the link at 50, and the actuating spring zointerconnecting. a. point, such as post 48, on the handle proper and ananchor 2-2 mounted on the bracket base 24. Cooperating with the. mov-.

able .parts'of the retractable doorhandle is a Stationary 'iulcrmn. :such as the rib. or transverse. element. 26. shownas. anintegral part of the. housingzll As. will appear from the more detailed description-which follows, pressure. applied to the end of. the door handle. proper M which overhangs. the. fulcrum .26 causes: the handle totilt away from its :position shown in Figure 1 to its critical position shown .in Figure 2 at which pointthe line of force of the actuating spring crosses over the .ax'isofv the pivot .pin 50 of vthe handleproiecting link, 16' on the lug I8; and when the handle passes .the critical position'or point, as it has in Figure 3; it then, by forceof spring 20 actingefiectivelyioutwardly on the. link '16 about pivot. 50,:quickly snaps into its projectedposition shown in Figure 4. Retraction -ofthe handle is effected atswill vby applyinga reverse pressure to the-handle in such manner that the link 16' is swung downwarditoward the recess to the further purpose of swinging the handle relative t0 the-link;

considering the illustrative structure in further detail. the retractable door handle is shown in-i stalled in. the. door itself, 28, the exterior side of which appears at the top of Figure 1, although it rwillxbe evident. that various types of door operating mechanisms would permit: installing the handle directly; in the fuselage. at .one side of the doorinstead. of. directly in the door. In the latter; case-other means would ibelprovided, if de siredli-ior grasping the door :inunoving it openand shut after unlatched by using the retractable is in its retracted position the link [6, lug or bracket I8 and actuating spring 20 are hidden beneath the handle member l4.

Link l-fiis conveniently formed as a channel has a .pairof laterally spaced ears [4' embracing the channel sides of link l6, through which the pivot pin 52 passes defining the axis about which the pin 52 of such handle swings relative to the link. Similarly, lug l8 has parallel ears projecting upward which embrace the channel sides of link (6., and through which a pin is passed .piv-

oting the link on the bracket for swingingabout;

pin 50 generally parallel to pin 52.

Shaft H1 is fixed to the mounting, lug l-8 upon which the channel shaped. link. I6 is. mounted. and turns'with the link about the shaft axiswhen .the handle 14 is grasped and rotated. Theshaft fixedly carries a latch operating arm 3.0

beneath the base ofhousing I2, and loosely care ries. the independently rotatable double crank-:31

beneath the arm. The lower. end ofithe shaft.

is journaled in a guiding: aperture in. thebase portion of a. depression 34. formed in the inner side part of the door. Any suitable -'sec.urin means may be provided to retain the. shai'tllt against. withdrawalfrom theseveral coaxial parts by pulling outwardly on the door handle.

Arm 30 has a downwardly projecting pin-3.5;. which is adapted to bear. against r0118. lateral edge of one extension ofthe. doublecran'kBZ to effect rotation of such crank.v on shaft 10. as the door handle is rota-tedin the proper direction (Figure '7 'As may be seen from Figureil, :th-is movement of :the double crank 13.2. retracts the latchidogs 38 at. opposite-sides of'the' door from latch abu-t-:

ments 38 which they engage Jon the fuselage, to unlatch therdoor, the dogs pivoting on pins to in the. door and being pivotally' connected to the ends of the. crank .32 by the pair of linksJAZ. The

pivot axes at the respective'endsof the links 12 are disposed substantially perpendicularly tapermitxswinging o1 .oneendof each link-inone plane, as by rotation ofthe crank 32, while its other end; such as that connected to the latch dogs 38', swings-inaplane generally at rig-ht angles there'- to. In order toenable opening the .door from the inside of the aircraft fuselage a lateral extension is provided on the double crank"3'2; which. may be grasped to rotate the-crank manuallyand withdraw the latch dogs: SBfromthe'i-r cooperat ing abutment's independently of'rot'ation of the shaft 'I fl or of the door handle-fixed thereto; This is seen most clearly in Figure 5. particular latch mechanism described *is primarily background for "the description-of th'e retractable door' handle and not tobe regarded as an essential part of the invention, it being understood that the retractable door handle: maybe used to oper ate door mechanisms varying in type and form.

With further reference tothe details of the retractabledoor handle mechanism; it will be seen that the hookelike anchor element-.12 projecting? upwardifrom the basevZI, theilower end. of-thea actuating spring .2lliis fastene'd, a-n'd the inward 1y projecting :post -4.8 carrying the "oppositecoo of the spring, are so disposed with relation to thepiv'ot' axis 50 of thelinkand-Jthe pivot. axis 52 of the handle member I4-on the link to achieve the spring urged movements of l the handle parts, previously set forth. That'is, thepivot pin 50 is located above anchor '22 and atthe side of the pivot remote from pivot'52 and pin 48 is located at the side-of pivot'52 remote from pivot 50 and outward from pivot 52, as seen in Figure'3, for

example;

Thus with the door handle in its retracted position and its parts I4 and I6 folded generallyparallelto the plane of the door, the line of force ofthe spring passes somewhat over the pivot axis 52 and somewhat under the pivot axis-'50, this being theresult of therespective effective projectin'g lengthsof the anchor 22 and post 48, and

the relative heightwise' locations of the axes 50 and 52. With thehandle retracted, the lower' face of the handle member I4 at oneend preferably rests against an abutment or stop which-is formed by the upper end edges of the bracket or lug' I8, thereby restricting relative folding movement of the handle and link, I4 and I6.-- On the side of pins 52 away from the handles end just mentioned the handles lower face rests upon fulcrum element 26 which, cooperatively with the bracket stop I8, acts as a stop to limit downward swinging of the link I6 and handle member I4 under influence of the actuating spring 20. The upper outer corner of link I6 is mitered at 54 for clearance of the link by'handle member I4 as movementof the link I6 and handle I4 preferably p when such members reach the point of perpendicu1arity,.as shown in Figure 4. The spring 20 urges such members into this angular relationship by exerting a force on the handle tending to rotate it clockwise on pivot pin 52, as seen in Figures 1 to 4.

, In orderto raise the retractable door handle from its retracted position into its operativejposition, as viewed in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, downward pressure is first exerted on the end of the handle proper I4 which overhangs the partition fulcrum 26. This tilts the handle on the fulcrum 26 to swing its link-connected end outward or upward, as shown in these figures. Such movement, accompanied by upward swinging of the link I6 about its pivot pin and relative unfolding moyement of the members I4 and I6 takes place initially against the force of actuating spring 20, which force persists until the critical or crossover point is reached, at which the spring line of force passes through axis 50 of the link and preferablyalso axis 52 of the handle I4, as shown in Figure 2. Then as the handle is pressed furtherih the same direction and beyond the crossover point, the revers'ely applied spring force quickly erects the link I6 toward its projecting position substantially normal to the door; The inner corner 58 of the link I6, on'the diagonal with the mitered corner 54 previously described is rounded to clear the base 24 ,as the link swings in this manner. The unrounded corners of the link channel sides constitute an abutment 66 which bears fiatly against the upper side of the bracket base '24 to stop outward swinging of the link I6 when the link is fully erect. I I l It will be evident that the cross-over point of the spring 26 with respect to both'ofthe two pins 50 and 52 need: not occur simultaneously, although it is preferably made to do so, as illustrated in Figure 2, since the spring-urged un-.

folding movement of handle and link and erect-' ing movement of the two together are then 1111- tiated practically simultaneously.

It will be observed that as the handles end is being pressed inward to pivoton the fulcrum partition and swing link I6 outward, certain lengthwise sliding of the handle member-I 4on the axis 50 inwardly from the doors outer surface, I

dimensions which are subject to variation in design. Because of the are of swing of the end of the link I6 carrying the handle member I4, it-

will be evident that the latter is displaced length wise or in a direction parallel to the-plane of the door at the same time it is elevated, so that it no longer directly-overlies the entire length of the recess in'the housing I2. I I

When it is desired to retract the handle into the housing recess, as when the aircraft is'ready for 'flight, it is merely necessary to press on the handle member I4 at such a point that the link I6 swings downward at the same time the members I4 and I6 tend to fold together by the continued application of such pressure. Pres-- sure inwardly and to the right, as seenin Figure 4, is preferably applied 'to the handle at the 5 side of a vertical line passing through the pins 50 and 52 away from the fulcrum 26 to cause the handle member I4 to swing readily counterclock-- wise on link I6, and such link clockwise about pin 50. When, during such movement,the cross over point of the spring 20 is reached'with respect to the pins 50 and 52, bothfolding and retract ing ofthe handle parts occur automatically by force of the spring. As previouslystated, the spring then holds the parts in retracted position against moderate forces which may happen to be applied to the handle tending to elevate itfl accidentally.

It will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the particular form of the handle compo-. nents or the particular means by which they are interconnected and operated, are matterssubject to considerable variation-within the principles involved, and that by varying the spring 'constant and the locations of the several pivots with relation to each other and with relation to the spring and the location of the fulcrum 26 difhas been shown mounted flush with the doors" outer surface in its handle-retracted position, it

mayas readily be set further within, the door'ormay even be constructed toproject outward therefrom a short distance when retracted.

We claim as our invention:

1. A retractablef-handle installation comprising: choosing-defining a recess, a handle member turnable about an axis or rotation and retractable into such recess, mountin means rotatable about said tu-ming axis..:a link pivotally connectedto said: mountin means and said ham dle' member. by pivots spaced apart along the linlcdor swingin or saidlink relative to; said 7 handle member and saidmountin means. spring mcansroperatively connected at one end to said handle member, and at its opposite end to said mountinsimeans, the spring connections bein located such in relation to' thelink and.- handle member that-the line at force-of saidsprine n ,tersects-animag nafl line extending between themes of saidsoaoodpivots and swings through varying angles-of int rsection with said lino. bass 7 lug-through the zero angle, with swing ngo s id link between its projected and retracted posi ions.

'2; The retractable handle installation defined in claim 1. the having stop-means co porab.

ing. with thehandlemember tollimit n n 9 one relative to the other at mutually parallel nd l perpendicular p sitions, r spectiv y. and fur her tiom-such stationary element constituting arful 0113;112:01 the handle member, which fulcrum.v

whentbe lin is in retracted position, is engaged by the handle member generallyintermedlate the pivotal connection of the handle member with the link and one end ,of the handle member so that such handle member and thereby overhangs suchifulcrum; said fulcrum nabling swingingof,

the linkoutward irom the housing to b initiated by pressing inward at will; on such overhanging end-oi the handle member.

3'. Therctraotable handle installation defined inclaim 2,-andadditiona1 stop means comprise ingl-ooo'peratmg abutments carried-by the link and the mountingmeans, limiting outward swinging movement ofthe link at aposition thereof substantially parallel to the handle turningv axis 01 the mounting means. i

4. 5. retractable handle comprising handlemeans having an elongated member formed tobc-.-;grasped-by hand and turned about an axis,

moahsrotatablcabout said turning axis and sup-Q potting said handle means forswinging of saidconnected pivotallyat one end to said handle 6. The retractable handle defined in claim 5.

andresilient means tending to maintain the-link andthandle' member carried thereby in handle retracted position. 7

7; The retractable handle defined in claim :6. wherein the resilient m ans tending to maintain the l-mk in handle-projected position and the resilient means tending to maintain the link. in handle-retracted position comprise a single dou ble-action spring connected at one end to the: mounting means andat its-opposite end to the handle: member; such connected ends being so located. for achieving the double action. that the line of spring force,.in-handle projected P sition oithe link. intersec s at an. acutean e the-p a containing both the pivot axis or the handle on the link and the links xis of swing. nd. in handle-retracted position, intersects the same plane at an opposite acute angle, both intersco! tions occurring betweensuch-axes.

8'. A retractable door handle c mprising an, elongated handle member formed to be grasped by hand and rotated abouta turning axis, a link member for relative swinging thereof substanttialll between mutually perpendicular and'mutually parallel relationship, mounting meanspiw otallylconnected to the opposite end of said link for swinging thereof between positions generally parallel and generally perpendicular to such nan: dle turning axis, to move said handle member between projected and retracted ositions, res spect'ively, and .means guiding. said mounting means for rotation about the handle turning.

axis.

9. Retractable handle mechanism comprisin projecting handl means including an elongated member ab ut arr-axis at right angles to .saidturning axis, bctwmen projected and retracted positions and. d0ubIe=acting spring me ns 'cooperatnlg with. said handle means and handle supporting means operatively to urge said clongated. member toward projected position or reabout 'anaxis generally parallel to said pivotaxis,

between handle-prod ecting position generally parallcl 'to said turning axis, and-handle-retractcd position at asubstantial angle thereto and resilient means tending til-maintain said link and handle member carried thereby in handle-projected position, said mounting" means being ro-' tatableabout said handle turning axis;

,tracted position when such member is. swung. bodily a predetermined distance toward either to said mounting meansto permit swinging of said link thereon about an axis perpendicular to the mounting means turning axis and parallel to the pivot axis of'said handle'member on' said link, between handle-projecting position ofsaid link generally parallel to said turning axis and handle-retracted position generally perpendicular thereto, resilient means having one end connected to said mounting means in the vicinity of "the links pivotal connection" thereon andan-oppos' site end connected tosaid handle means in the vicinity of the pivotal connection between said handle member and link,positionlng'sald' resilient means in such relationship tothe links axisof swin -that the line of'zforce-oi said resilient moans acting on said link swings across from onc'side to the other of said .links'axis of swingoon'tllemounting means, during. swinging of the link be:

tween handle-projected and handle-retracted positions in either direction, said link having;

tion, a fixed stop engageable by the handle membar in handle-retracted position, at a location thereon between the ends of such handle member but beyond the end of the link pivotally connected to such handle member, said fixed stop having an edge comprising a fulcrum for the handle member for pivoting of its link-connected end outward toward projected position by pressing inward at will on its opposite end overhanging the fulcrum.

11. Retractable handle mechanism comprising a link, link mounting means rotatable about a handle turning axis, first pivot means connecting one end of said link and said link mounting means for swinging of said link about an axis substantially perpendicular to the mounting means turning axis between retracted position generally perpendicular to said turning axis and extended position generally parallel to said turning axis, a handle member, second pivot means connecting said handle member and said link for swinging of said handle member relative to said link about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said first pivot means between retracted position generally parallel to said link and extended position generally perpendicular to said link, and resilient means interconnecting said rotatable mounting means and said handle and normally maintaining said link and handle member in their retracted positions but yieldable to enable swinging of said link and handle member into their respective extended positions.

12. The retractable door handle mechanism defined in claim 11, in which the resilient means is a single spring having one end connected to the link mounting means offset from the first pivot means axis and farther from the second pivot means axis than the distance between the two pivot means axes in all swung positions of the link, and having its other end connected to the handle member offset from the second pivot means axis and farther from the first pivot means axis than the distance between the two pivot means axes in all swung positions of the link, for shifting of the line of spring force from a position inclined in one direction to a line joining the two pivot means axes through a position parallel to such joining line into a position inclined oppositely relative to such joining line as the handle member swings between extended and retracted positions.

13. The retractable door handle mechanism defined in claim 12, and further comprising a stationary fulcrum spaced from the first pivot means axis a distance greater than that between the two pivot means axes and engageable by the handle member for outward swinging of the secand pivot means by pressing inward on that portion of the handle member at the side of the fulcrum remote from the second pivot means.

14. A retractable door handle comprising an elongated handle member formed to be grasped by hand and turned about an axis generally at right angles to the general plane of a door carrying such handle, a link, first pivot means connecting one end of said link and said handle member for pivoting about an axis transverse to the length of the handle member and also transverse to the turning axis of said handle member, mounting means mounted for rotation about said handle turning axis, second pivot means connecting the other end of said link and said mounting means for pivoting of said link about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said first pivot means between handle-projected position generally parallel to said turning axis and handle-retracted position generally perpendicular to said turning axis, abutment means limiting swinging of said link between said two positions, abutment means limiting swinging of said handle member relative to said link in Inutually perpendicular relationship in handle-projected position of said link, and further abutment means limiting swinging of said handle member relative to said link in mutually parallel relationship in the handle-retracted position of said link.

JACK R. GATES. JAMES F. SCHULER.

CES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Pruner July 11, 1939 Number 

